The Ultimate Guide to Geocaching: Tips and Gear

Treasure Hunt with Geocaching

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• Handheld GPS Unit
• Backpack
• Water Bottles

Many of us fondly recall the thrilling treasure hunts from our childhood summer camps. Armed with a set of instructions and only a vague idea of where to search, we raced off to uncover as many prizes as we could find.

Geocaching takes that childhood excitement and expands it into a global treasure hunt, utilising modern technology. It connects enthusiasts around the world who share a passion for exploration and the great outdoors.

Understanding Geocaching

Defining Geocaching

If you are new to the term, geocaching can seem quite unfamiliar. It can be split into two main components: “geo” and “caching”.

• “Geo” denotes geography or geolocation. Since the treasure hunt occurs outdoors, understanding your environment is key to locating the prizes. This part also refers to the geographical coordinates, often provided in longitude and latitude.

• “Caching” refers to the cache — the hidden treasure. Generally, this takes the form of a waterproof container that includes a logbook and may also contain a small trinket or prize.

How Geocaching Works

Geocachers, the players of this game, hide items in various locations and create points of interest on the official Geocaching app. Other enthusiasts can select a point from the app and embark on their quest to find the hidden item by following coordinates or clues.

With hundreds of thousands of geocaches scattered worldwide, anyone can initiate their own treasure hunt. Once you discover a cache, it’s important to sign the logbook to document your find and then place the cache back in its original location.

This game relies heavily on trust; if someone were to deceive others, it would diminish the overall experience. Therefore, caches typically contain only low-value items or tokens of interest to the geocaching community.

Essential Gear for Geocaching

While you can certainly search for geocaches in casual clothing, having the right gear can significantly enhance your experience.

• Global Positioning System: Most geocache sites are marked using longitude and latitude, rather than visual cues. Hence, having a reliable handheld GPS unit is critical. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone with mapping apps like Waze or Google Maps. The Geocaching app itself includes a built-in map, but you must have a smartphone equipped with GPS capabilities.

• Durable Footwear: Depending on where your chosen geocache is hidden, a good pair of men’s hiking shoes, women’s hiking shoes, or children’s hiking footwear might be necessary. While some caches are located in urban areas, most require venturing off the beaten path, making sturdy hiking shoes essential for comfort.

• A Good Backpack: Think of geocaching as a mini-hike with a reward at the end. Therefore, carrying a backpack with essentials is advisable. You wouldn’t want to limit your adventure to just one cache if there are more nearby.

• Geocaching Supplies: Inside your backpack, pack essentials for a day of searching and climbing. Besides a few water bottles, ensure you have spare batteries or a power bank for your phone, as using it as a GPS can drain the battery quickly. Don’t forget snacks like protein bars or sandwiches, and consider including a first aid kit, a notepad, and a couple of pens.

Geocaching Rules

Where to Hide Caches

Geocaching is guided by a set of informal rules and regulations. Since there’s no governing body overseeing participants, each geocacher must adhere to the guidelines.

One key rule concerns acceptable hiding locations for caches. Caches cannot be buried, such as in sand or soil. They must be easily accessible without the need for special tools or gear, and should not be placed in prohibited areas, nor should they pose any danger to the finder.

Ideal hiding spots include tree stumps, behind objects at ground level, or within tall grass. However, locating the cache can often be more challenging than reaching the area. Many geocachers design their hunts to require a bit of effort, enhancing the sense of achievement upon discovery.

To conceal caches, some geocachers utilise clever tricks, hiding containers within fake rocks, imitation stumps, or elaborate camouflage. Some even use decoys like fake acorns or chewed gum to add an extra layer of challenge.

To maintain safety and orderliness, a growing number of community volunteer reviewers oversee new cache submissions to ensure compliance with guidelines.

Contents of a Cache

The items inside a cache can vary, but there is always a logbook present for you to record your find. It’s essential to replace the cache exactly as you found it so that others can enjoy it too. Sometimes, there may not be a writing tool included, which is why having a couple of pens in your backpack is advisable.

If the hider is generous, there might also be low-value objects inside, which could include foreign coins, trinkets, or other small items. Geocoins, specially crafted to commemorate causes or milestones, are popular among geocachers.

Some caches may contain a trackable geocoin that isn’t meant to track the finder’s location but to chart the coin’s journey. Instructions usually accompany these coins, directing you to place them in the next cache you find so that the owner can monitor their travels, which could even span international borders. However, including a geocoin is not mandatory, and many geocachers do not expect to find one.

Respecting the Environment

A fundamental principle of geocaching is to leave the environment as you found it. You should never damage property or wildlife to retrieve the container and strive to leave no trace of your presence.

Keep in mind that you might not always be searching for treasures in familiar locations. If you’re venturing into uncharted territory, researching the area beforehand is wise, as there may be potential hazards or better routes to consider.

For instance, if you live in an urban area but are geocaching in a forest, do you know how to respond if you encounter a bear? A simple guideline to remember is, “if it’s brown, lay down. If it’s black, fight back.”

Completing Your Quest

Upon finding the geocache (hopefully without any wildlife encounters), there are several actions to take to complete your mission.

• First, verify that you’ve located the correct cache. Typically, the container will have markings indicating it is an “official geocache” and should not be disturbed by non-geocachers. It may also include the hider’s details and the cache’s name and number, so you avoid inadvertently opening someone else’s belongings.

• Next, depending on the container size, you’ll likely find a logbook or small strips of paper, a pen, and possibly a trinket. Make sure to fill in the logbook and update the geocaching app to indicate your find.

• Lastly, carefully replace the logbook and ensure the container is returned to its original location. Trying to outsmart the system by relocating it will only diminish the enjoyment for future seekers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What equipment do I need to start geocaching?

A. You don’t need much official gear to begin geocaching. The most crucial step is downloading a relevant geocaching app for your area, with the Geocaching.com app being the most popular. Apart from that, a pen and a spirit of adventure are all you really need.

Q. Who can hide a geocache?

A. The joy of geocaching is that anyone can be both a seeker and a hider. There are no restrictions on who can hide caches, as long as you follow general guidelines and local regulations.

Q. Is geocaching safe during the COVID pandemic?

A. Yes, geocaching is as safe as any outdoor activity. As long as you practice common sense and maintain healthy habits, you should be free from danger while enjoying fresh air in open spaces.

Q. Do I have to leave something behind in a cache?

A. While there are no hard rules about leaving something in a cache, the unwritten expectation is to “take something, leave something.” This means if you take a trinket, you should replace it with an item of equal or greater value.

Q. What does P&G mean on the map?

A. Geocaching can sometimes be time-consuming, so for those who need to be quick, caches marked as P&G (Park and Grab) are ideal. These are easily accessible caches that can be quickly retrieved.

Q. What geocaching acronyms should I know?

A. While the lingo can be tricky, here are a few acronyms to remember:

• BOT: Indicates “base of the tree” when searching for a cache.
• DNF: Means “did not find” and indicates the previous seeker was unsuccessful.
• QAEPAG: Stands for “Quick and easy park and grab” for those in a hurry.